>> get ready for "teen kids news." here's what's coming up. >> in my report on sports injuries, i'll explain why "no pain, no gain" is really lame. >> we'll meet a teen who achieved something many girls dream of doing. >> it's our flag, and we should all know how to hold it, fold it, and fly it. >> some bananas, a freezer, and you're good to go, and i'll show you how. >> making a musical is about much more than just singing and dancing. i'll show you how some teens are making a "smash" on stage. >> that and more next on "teen kids news."

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. we'll start with our top story. >> the same drive that pushes you to be good at sports may be pushing you to be taking some bad risks. scott reports on a disturbing trend in athletics. >> i broke my wrist snowboarding, i dislocated my knee playing basketball, i dislocated my elbow wrestling, and i broke my wrist playing soccer. >> i got a concussion from ice hockey. i was skating, and i got checked in the head. >> i have hairline-fractured my femur and have had patellofemoral syndrome in both my knees from soccer. [ whistle blows ] >> more kids are playing sports than ever before, so it's no surprise that injuries are on the rise.

>> as the number of children that play sports increases, the number of injuries that occur in those sports has skyrocketed at an even much greater rate. >> let's listen to that part again. here's the instant replay. >> the number of injuries that occur in those sports has skyrocketed at an even much greater rate. >> what the doctor is saying is there aren't more injuries just because there are more kids playing sports. it seems that kids are getting injured more often. two factors are to blame. >> younger kids are playing the contact and collision -- the violent sports that older kids played in the past. also... younger kids are playing one particular sport year-round, leading to more overuse injury. an overuse injury is essentially an injury that occurs from too much stress on one part of the body without enough time to recover from that stress. >> and these injuries are becoming more common. >> now there's a tremendous

pressure on children to start one particular sport at ages 12, even 10, maybe 7 and 8, play it year-round, which that can create a problem because it exposes that young athlete to the same stresses on the same parts of the body over and over with no periods of appreciable rest. >> that's why dr. geier is helping to lead a campaign called "stop sports injuries." it's aimed at protecting young athletes from overuse injuries. no, you don't -- and you shouldn't. instead of playing through the pain, pay attention to what your body is telling you. >> i would look for pain or discomfort that is taking longer and longer to go away with rest. if it's lingering for two or three days or longer, i would start to be concerned that you have a problem that, potentially, is building up.

that's something to let parents and coaches know and potentially see a doctor. >> overuse injuries can happen in any sport. in fact, they can happen in activities that aren't sports. >> i will keep dancing on point, even if it hurts. >> the "point" being made in this p.s.a. is that pain should not be ignored. >> you're not going to disappoint your parents and coaches. you'll actually help them, because if they know there's a problem, potentially, you can look into it and address it before it becomes a bigger problem that they may actually have to pull you out of sports. [ whistle blows ] >> so keep in mind this advice -- don't play through pain. tell your coaches and parents when you're not feeling right, ask to play different positions on the team so you're not always stressing the same parts of your body, and avoid playing the same sport all year round. the idea is not to let a small injury turn into a big problem. for "tkn," i'm scott. >> there's more "teen kids news" coming up next. >> we'll be right back.

>> nowadays, girls have all kinds of goals, from astronaut to zookeeper. but as veronique reports, there's another title that many consider a "crowning" achievement. >> being miss teen u.s.a. is an unbelievable dream. >> danielle doty is living the dream -- a dream she's been aiming toward most of her life. >> i had been competing in pageants since i was 7 years old, and i thought, "you know, i'm at the right age." so i was a try?" >> texas! [ cheers and applause ] >> the texas teen won the crown, and now she gets to wear the gown. >> colorful? >> colorful. >> [ laughs ] >> actually, quite a few of them. hers is now a lifestyle jam-packed with red-carpet openings, glitter, and glamour. >> i love this. >> love that. out of these three pieces, i'd say the zipper dress is really amazing, and this is, i mean, just fabulous. >> it looks like fun, but it's also a full-time job. danielle has a calendar filled

with good causes...like this one -- project sunshine. it brings a bit of happiness to children with serious illnesses. >> when she comes into the hospital, she just has a light about her and makes the kids smile and makes them feel like a normal kid. >> helping out miss teen u.s.a. is some additional star power -- miss u.s.a. much like a supportive older sister, miss u.s.a. is clearly proud of danielle. >> she's a natural! she's just going up to them and making them smile and laugh. >> whether painting faces... or posing with fans, danielle is very aware that she's always setting an example. >> serving as a role model for teens is something i love doing. i believe in myself, and i want to be the best person i can be. if they see that in a teen, then they know that they can do that, too. >> she was really, really friendly and really nice. >> school, wardrobe fittings, photo shoots, and charity appearances -- it's a lot to juggle, but danielle takes her busy schedule in stride. >> that's perfect!

>> and i want to take advantage of every second i am miss teen u.s.a. because it only lasts a year and it goes by so quick. >> if all this looks like the stuff your dreams are made of, danielle has some advice. >> believe in yourself. if you want to enter a pageant, you can. >> the miss teen u.s.a. pageant is open to girls 14 to 19 years old. every state holds a preliminary competition. to learn more, there's a link on our website. for "tkn," i'm veronique.

>> it's the symbol of our country, yet many of us don't know the proper ways of handling our national flag. carly got some tips from the experts. >> we're in baltimore, at historic fort mchenry. during the war of 1812, this is where the battle was fought that inspired francis scott key

to write "the star-spangled banner," so it's the perfect place to learn about the right way to handle our flag. patrick rawle is a park ranger. but today, he's wearing a uniform from colonial times. don't let that bright-red color confuse you. >> to arms! the redcoats are coming! the redcoats are coming! >> so, could you explain your uniform for us? >> i am dressed as a musician in the united states corps of artillery. musicians wore red so officers could easily spot them on the field of battle. all right, guys! one quick thing! when the flag starts to pull as i'm raising it, you got to let go, okay? >> do you raise the flag every single day, even if no one's here? >> that is correct. we are mandated by law. president truman, in 1948, declared that fort mchenry should fly the flag 24/7, 365 days. >> like our country, our flag has changed a lot through the years.

how long has the flag looked the way it does? >> the flag has had 50 stars and 13 stripes since 1960. >> that's when hawaii became our newest state. what is the most-famous american flag? >> the most-famous american flag is the flag that flew here in 1814. it is now in the smithsonian museum in washington, but it inspired the national anthem, and, therefore, it is the most-famous american flag. >> that flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes, and if you look closely, the flag they are flying here at fort mchenry is the same -- just a lot smaller. what are the right ways to handle the flag? >> the proper way is to not let it touch the ground, to bring the flag down slowly and reverently, but to hoist it briskly and with enthusiasm, especially in carrying the flag, they carry it close to your heart with your hands crisscrossed, and just showing general proper respect to the flag. >> we'll hear more about that

in a minute, but first, here's the right way to fold the flag into a right triangle. >> this was a tradition that originated around the start of world war i. there is no real reason why it happened -- it just kind of did. however, in the flag code, it states that it pays, essentially, homage to the founding fathers of our nation and their tri-cornered hats. so, i'm gonna grab this, and you're going to grab the bottom there. there you go. and we're gonna do that one more time so that way, there will be blue on both sides, like... there we go. exactly. you've got the bottom now. all right. so, now we're gonna make sure that all our edges are together like this. see how it's a nice, even rectangle? we're gonna try to keep it like that, so keep all that tension in there so the flag doesn't bunch up. >> it's important to first start with a small, straight fold. >> there you go. and now you're gonna bring that corner over there and keep a nice, crisp edge. there you go. exactly. very good.

so, just keep following the edge. look how good that looks. very good job. this is a very, very neat flag. this is probably one of the most-crisp folds that i have seen people do in awhile, so very good job. appreciate it. yeah. so, basically, now what we're gonna do to make it -- to finalize this very, very good job, we're gonna tuck this edge into that pocket right there so you don't see the white of the edge of the canvas, so there. let's just get that there. >> all right. >> and you are all set to go. very good job. look at that. looks very nice. >> high five. >> so, there you go. >> is there a specific way to hand off and receive the flag? >> there is. a lot of people don't know it, but there's a special way to receive the flag. you grab the flag and crisscross your hands, bringing the flag up close to your heart. that's the way the military does it, and that's the way we do it in the parks service, too. it's also common that when you're in uniform, a salute is given, as well. >> do we treat our flag differently than other countries do? >> we do. for example, a lot of countries

may or may not be bothered as much if it brushes the ground or touches the ground, but especially in the unique way we fold the flag. very few countries fold it like a triangle. a lot of them, they simply roll it up as a square, fold it as a square, or roll it up as a cylinder. but the unique triangle, that's a very american thing. especially in disposing of the flag, we have a special ceremony where the flag is cut into different stripes and parts and then ceremoniously burned, whereas some places, they just simply get rid of it. >> whether it's flying over a fort or hanging on your porch, it's our flag, so handle it with care. for "tkn," i'm carly. >> when it comes to improving grades, scientists in spain say girls have a leg up. they compared girls who walked or biked to school with girls who caught a ride. on average, the more physically active girls scored four points higher on math and verbal tests. the researchers say exercise made the difference, though they aren't sure why. it may have to do with increased blood flow to the brain. and here's something

interesting -- exercise doesn't have the same effect on boys. 

>> from one of the best cooking schools in the world to your kitchen, here's another easy and fun recipe from the culinary institute of america. >> hi, my name is aubrey, and today, i'm going to tell you and show you what to do with those old bananas. sometimes, we just buy way too many bananas, and before you can slice them all on your cereal, they turn black. today, i'm going to show you what you can do with those bananas instead of making banana bread. this recipe calls for frozen bananas, so let's pretend these are on their way out and kind of brown. we're going to peel the banana and put it into a freezer bag. and the reason you're peeling

it is because frozen bananas with the peel on is very hard to unpeel and will make your fingers very cold. and put the banana in the plastic bag, seal it up, and the bananas will always be ready for you in the freezer so that you can make this recipe and much more. now let's get started. you're not going to believe how easy this recipe really is. we'll take two frozen bananas and place them into the food processor. you can also use a blender if you don't have one. we'll place the lid on. and just pulse. perfect -- smooth and creamy. bring our bowl.

i'll scoop right into the bowl. if you've ever had frozen yogurt, this tastes just like it. mmm. for "tkn," i'm aubrey from the culinary institute of america. you can find this and other c.i.a. recipes on our website. >> this report is brought to you by the specialty equipment market association. >> i'm here at sema. "sema" stands for the specialty equipment market association. "what's that?" you ask. well, let me tell you this. if it has anything to do with cars, it's here. exotics? you bet. by the ton. and trucks by the truckload. sema is an industry show where cars are fashion and car parts fashionable. >> we're very excited to be producing a new feature called the ebay garage.

it's a great personalization platform for enthusiasts to customize their experience on ebay motors. and we have over 2 million vehicle profiles created already that enthusiasts can browse through and connect with other enthusiasts and hopefully inspire them to do more projects. we're selling 383,000 parts on our mobile app every week now. >> sema is a show like none other. and for auto makers, it's a chance to connect with their devotees. >> sema's all about customization. and we've got a brand-new product here, very limited-edition -- only 300 cars. and we're also here for the global rallycross race. we have the subaru stis racing, as well. so it's a great kind of a one-two punch for us. really getting in touch with our customers. >> and fans of the world's greatest superheroes will be happy to see that their dc comics character favorites aren't only superhuman, but now super cars. >> where we are continuing our partnership with dc entertainment and their justice league characters. >> the green lantern car -- the

touches they put on that, from the white side-view mirrors that really kind of evoke the white gloves that the character has, and also the steering wheel has two little white elements. >> if you're a kid, imagine how cool it would be to roll into school in one of these rides. kia's hoping that interest in these cars will help drive interest in the "we can be heroes" charity campaign to fight hunger in africa. so, besides looking cool, this auto maker is doing something very cool. from las vegas, i'm tore dietrich for "teen kids news." >> to mark our 10th year on tv, each week, we take a look back at one of the stories we've covered. >> if you have trouble sleeping, you may need to say "good night" to your computer a little earlier. you see, scientists found that staring at the bright computer screen actually confuses your brain so that it thinks it's still daytime, even though it's not. so be sure to turn off your computer at least an hour before you go to bed, because you can always play tomorrow. i'm brian "the cyber guy" for "kids news."

>> a numumber of schools around the u.s. are getting help...from a tv show. christina explains. >> ♪ i got the horse right here ♪ ♪ his name is paul revere ♪ there's a guide that says if the weather's clear ♪ >> a lot goes into making a musical, and it starts long before the curtain ever rises. >> your job is to tell a story. whether you're onstage, whether you're singing, whether you're dancing, whether you're acting, whether you're doing all three at once, which happens a lot in musicals, your job is to tell a story. >> the instructors conducting this high-school workshop are visitors. they're from itheatrics. >> when i count to three, i want you to freeze in position. >> because of budget cuts, many schools can't afford to have a musical-theater program. >> way over here, dad. >> and that's where itheatrics

comes in. they travel to schools, helping them with professional expertise and other support. >> we're gonna teach them actual skills that they can use year after year after year and so that their programs are sustainable, they're cost-effective, and that the musical programs continue, even when we leave the community. >> here, the students are learning the basics of directing and staging. >> if somebody stands further back, they look smaller and how that shows the importance of each character. >> so, we're empowering the kids to figure out what the story is, figure out who the characters are, and then create a visual representation of that, the idea being the audience will then be able to tell and follow the story just by looking at the pictures. right, left. right, left. right, left. right, left. >> marty gets the kids loosened up to do some moves. >> back, left. back, left. >> next is learning a few singing techniques. >> and a lot of that has to do with breathing, posture, becoming a character, diction,

vowels -- all the things they know, but so that they can personally do it on their own and then apply it to their character no matter what role they're playing, wherever they are, because music is what it's about in a musical. >> no one knows that more than the creators of the tv show "smash." without their sponsorship, itheatrics wouldn't be able to bring these workshops to schools across the country. >> thank you, "smash"! >> schools competed to be a part of the "'smash' make a musical" class. the students here at leadership and public service high school were some of the first winners. >> ♪ oh, the wells fargo wagon is a-coming down the street ♪ ♪ oh, please let it be for me >> we're excited -- very, very, very excited and honored, and this today was just amazing, and it's amazing to see what our kids can do. >> after choosing a musical to perform, itheatrics works with the school to get everything ready for the big opening night. >> i feel kind of nervous, but, you know, i'm excited.

it's a new thing for me. it's the first time i've ever acted before, so... >> i didn't even know i could sing or even act until i actually was on there and i was like, "oh, my goodness, i can do it." >> the biggest surprise about making a musical was our set. it's amazing, it looks beautiful, our lighting that we have is absolutely gorgeous, and we couldn't have done it without "'smash' make a musical" project. >> ♪ right here [ applause ] >> no doubt about it. the performance was truly a "smash" hit. >> that's all for this week. thanks for joining us. >> we'll see you next time with more "teen kids news."

>> write to us at... here's a shout-out to pr newswire for including "teen kids news" on their big screen in times square, new york city. >> from baltimore, a special thank-you to all our men and women serving in our military.